Rotary can washing machine



De.; 12, 1933. c. F. MCwAN 1,939,303

ROTARY CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. l2, 1933. c. F. Mer-:WAN 1,939,308

ROTARY CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. l0, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 12, 1933. C; F. MCEWAN 1,939,308

ROTARY CAN WASHING MACHINE Fi1e d oct. 1 O 1 9, 28 5 sheets-Sheet 5 13 l QY9 'I. I QO 55 V zo g; 30 H i? i 29 -f 29 i 7L u cfg; A l] f @if 200 Dec. 12, 1933. C, F MCEWAN 1,939,308

ROTARY CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. lO, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 De 12,'1933- c. F. MCEWAN 1,939,308

ROTARY CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed OGt. lO, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BZW Patented Dec. 12, 1933 PATENT OFFICE s 1,939,308 v ROTARY CAN WASHING MACHINE Charles F. McEwanVChicago, Ill., assignor to Harry D. Lathrop, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 10,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a rotary can washing machine especially adapted for washing,.steriliz ing and draining milk cans and covers and the 4 like, and theobject of the invention is the provision of` an improved machine of this character equipped with improved automatic valve operating mechanisms for the successive washing and sterilizing operations. l

A further object resides in the provision of an improved construction whereby the duration of the intermittent, successive washing, sterilizing and drying operations may be varied, and whereby the machine will continue to operate auto,- matically upon one adjustment of the period of duration of the successive operations until a second adjustment is made.

A further object is the provision of an improved can washing machine of this type which isdurable in construction, highly eflicient in use, and which is provided with a novel friction driving means to prevent injury to the driving mechanism in case of accident or emergency.

Other objects will appear hereinafter:

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by refer ence tothe accompanying drawings forming a` Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the sta-v tionary base and superposed rotary can carriage taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an inverted face view of the rotary driving disk;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of `the rotary can and cover carriage;

Fig. 7 is a plan view, partly in section, of the structure shown in Fig. 6, taken substantially on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

Fig.`8 is a plan view of the lower portion of the stationary supporting structure, taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4. j

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9 9 of Fig.v 1 and including a portion of the rotaryrcarriage, showing the relative position of the parts following an automatic operation of the Valves;

192s. serial No. 311,538

Fig. 10 is an elevational view taken substantially on the line 10 10 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 9v taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. l2 is al detailed plan viewof the valve lever operating shoe; and

Fig. 13 is a detailed elevational view of the soda solution discharge valve mechanism taken substantially on the line 13 13 of Fig. 1.V

As illustrated in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the apparatus comprises a lowerk stationaryframe structureconsisting of radially extending angle irons 15, upper radially extending angle irons 16 and vertically extending angle irons 17 which connect corresponding lpairs of angle irons 15 and 16,`and which preferably extend a suflicient distance beneath irons 15 to form supporting legs for the structure. 'Ihe lower angleY irons 15 are preferably secured to a stationary circular plate 18'by means of bolts or rivets, and similarly the inner ends of the` upper angle iron 16 are secured toma circular plate 19. Threaded into the respective plates 18 and 19 is a vertically extending sleeve member 20 within which `is rotatablyv mounted a vertically extending shaft 21. Shaft 21 is preferably arranged to make arfairly closer fit Within sleeve'20`to insure smoothness of operation, and is maintained in position by a collar 22 adapted to bearragainst the central portion of plate "19. Power is preferably suppliedv by means of elec-V tric motor and reduction gearing assembly 23 mounted upon the frame of the machine, the shaft of which is provided with a pinionY 24 adapted to mesh with gear 25 secured to the lower end of shaft 21. At a suitable locationv intermediate the length of shaft 21, there is secured thereto a driving disk 26, preferably of steel construction, and provided with an upper flat surface having frictional engagement with the lower surface of the corresponding driven disk 27 into which is threaded a vertically extending upper sleeve 28 (as shown in Fig. 4). Shaft 21 is constructed and arranged to make a fairly closet with sleeve 28 but still permit of rotation Within the sleeve, the, purpose'of the sleeve 28 being primarily to maintain the upper rotary can and cover carriage in position.

Fig. 6, the upper end of sleeve 28 has threaded engagement with plate 32. The outer ends of radially extending supports 30 are preferably secured to a circular angle iron 33, and the lower stationary portion of the apparatus is preferably reinforced by circular bands 34 and 35.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated,

six compartments are provided in the rotary carriage, each of which is adapted to receive an inverted can 36 and a cover 37. These compartments are formed by a plurality of radially extending plates 38, the upper ends of which are riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the corresponding T-irons 30 and the lower ends secured to radially extending T-irons 39; also the inner Walls of the respective compartments are formed by a plurality of curved plates 4G having lateral flanges for attachment to the inner edges of plates 38. The. outer ends of the respective radially extending T-irons 39 are preferably secured to a circular angle iron 41, and thus the horizontally extending flanges of members 39 and 41 in each compartment provide a ledge for the supportof a removable grating 42 having a circular opening 43 adapted to register with thetopA of an inverted can and provided with bars 44 for the support of the can cover. YThe entire rotary carriage is preferably enclosed within a stationary hood as shown in section at 45 in Fig. 4,. provided, however, with an openingl for depositing and withdrawing cans and covers, as hereinafter explained, and a small hood 46 is preferably secured to sleeve 28 for the purpose of shedding fluid from the friction. drive mechanism. Thus it will be seen that in the con,- struction shown, the structure forming the respective can and covercompartments is suspended from the upper supports 30, which provides a circular space between the hood 46 and the inner curved walls 40 of the compartments. Y

Further, in the construction and arrangement shown, the driving disk 26 rotates at a uniform,

speed, but the rotary can and cover carriage is Yintermittently stopped by means of the following mechanism. Disposed upon the periphery of the circular angle iron 41- and extending downwardly are a plurality of vlugs 47`equal in number to the number of can and covercompartments, and in the arrangement illustrated a lug 47 is provided for each compartmentiin the relative position shown in Fig. 7. `Disposed at one side of the machine adjacent the loading plate hereinafter described, is a vertically movable stop rod 48 normallyheld upwardly in the position showny in Fig. 4 by a compression spring 49 interposed betweencollar 50 and arm 51 of bracket 52, the upper arm 53 of which is provided with an opening to serve as aguidefor rod 48. Bracket 52 is secured to two vertically extending bars 54 and 55 which project downwardly as shown in Fig. 4 to pass upon each side of. arm 56 secured to .rod 48, whereby the latter is'maintained in. alignment and prevented from rotating. When one of the lugs .47 contacts with the upper end of stop rod 48 as shown in Fig. 4, the rotary carriage Vis maintained stationary, and the surfaces of disks 26 and 27 slide upon each other.

The carriage isreleased by the depression of rod V -plishedautomatically.

Athe covers.

the periphery of disk 26 and preferably disposed diametrically opposite thereon as shown in Fig. 5. A rocking member is slidably mounted upon the member 16 adjacent rod 48 as shown in Fig. 4, by means of strap members 61. Member 60 is provided with an upwardly extending L-shaped arm 62having a horizontally extending leg 63. Rocking member 60 is further provided with a laterally extending arm 64 adapted to engage arm secured to stop rod 48. As shown in Fig. y5, shoe 53 is spaced va greater distance from the center of disk 26 than is shoe 59, and in the posi- 'tion shown Ain Fig. 4, both of these shoes engage leg 63 of member 62 during one complete rotation of disk 26, and eachsuch engagement causes member 60 to be rocked, and the consequent depression of rod 48 and disengagement thereof with theV contacting lug 47, by means of arm 64 engaging and forcing arm 65 downwardly. The outer end of member 60 ispreferably provided with notches 66, 67 and 68 for the purpose of locking member 60 in any adjusted position by means of a plate 69 pivotally mounted upon the frame member 35, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. n the second adjustment, member 66 is withdrawn to theposition where plate 69 engages notch 67, and in this position leg 63 is engaged by shoe 58, but not by shoe 59, inasmuch as the latter passes the end of leg 63 by reason of being spaced inwardly from the periphery of disk 26. It will vthus be seen that in this second adjustment, the vrotary'carriage is released once during each complete rotation of disk 26. In the third adjustment whereby plate 69 engages notch 68 of member 60, leg 63 is withdrawn entirely from the path of either shoe 58 or shoe 59, and in this position the disengagement of stoprodY 48 with the contacting lug 47 is accomplished either by the manual depression of vfoot pedal 57 or by means of mechanism connected with the lloading plate as presently explained. A loading plate 70 is pivotally mounted upon bracket k71 whereby the inner edge ofthe loading plate may swing vertically, and may be arrangedto rest upon the upper end of pin 72, the lower end of which is recessed to fit upon projection 73 of arm-74 secured to stop rod 48.` The enclosing hood 45 preferably surrounds the entire rotary carriage, but is provided with an opening adjacent loading plate 70 whereby the cans and covers may be deposited upon and removed from the carriage. As a can is placed upon plate 70, pin 72 is depressed, causing re- .lease of the carriage as above explained, and the can and cover are then slid upon therack of the adjacent compartment. It will be understood that pin 72 is employed only when member 60 is in the adjustment where neither of the shoes 58 nor 59 contactswith the leg 63, and in either Yof the two adjustments where such Contact is made, pin 72 is ordinarily removed, inasmuch as the periodical release of the carriage is accom- After each disengagement ofA rod 48 with a lug 47, rod 48 is restored to lug engaging position by means of compression spring 49.

In the present construction, the rotary carriage is adapted to travel in a counter-clockwise direction, looking downward upon the apparatus, or in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, and the rst step in the cleansing operation is a cold water rinse by means ofV a perforated nozzle 75 which registers with'the opening of the can and perforated pipes 76, which spray water upon The cold water is supplied from a main supply pipe 77, one branch 78 of which the cover.

leads to the nozzles and 76; and another branch 79 leads to amixing chamber 80. A valve 81 is preferably disposed in pipe 79 for regulating the amount of cold water supplied to the mixing chamber 80, and the-valve 82may be placed in pipe 77 to controlthe main cold water supply. Pipe 78 extends through the bottom of a pan 83 which is adapted to receive the water after the rinsing operation and permit its discharge through a drain pipe 84. The second Washing operation is performed when the lcarriage revolves one step'from* the position above described, and consists lof a soda solution'spray upon the inside and outside 'of the can and upon distributing chamber provided with a perforated nozzle 91 adapted tospray the interior of the cans. Connected to chamber 90 are three upright perforated spray pipes 92 93 and 94, two of which are lshown in Fig. 4, and these pipes are adapted to spray soda solution upon the exterior of the cans. is disposed inwardly of wall 40 and therefore the partition 40 of each compartment is provided with a vertical vslot 95 of suicient width and heighth to permit the spray to pass therethrough. Interposed in pipe 89 is a valve 96 which is normally maintained closed by a spring engaging the stem, and this valve is caused to open by depression of plate 97 best shown in Fig. 13, which isY pivoted at 98 and provided withan inclined surface 99 which is adapted-to be successively Y receives an inverted can 36 and a can cover. AsV iex'plained, the number of lugs 47 is equal to the engaged by vlugs 47 on the rotary carriage ,causing stern 100 to be depressed and the soda `solution ejected. A branch pipe 101 is providedv withV thence the steam is conducted through pipe 106` to a can spraying nozzle 107 and cover nozzle 108: It willr be noted that hand valve 110 is provided to regulate the supply of steam to the'cover jet.

i A second branch from steam supply pipe1`03 is connected to radiator 111, and after passing therethrough, the stream isconducted through pipe 112 whichis likewise provided with a` spring valve 113 similar in construction to valves 96 and 105. An additional spring valve 114 is positioned in pipe 77, andv thus it will be VSeenfthat valves 105, 113 and 114 are arranged in align.- ment with their spring pressed stems extending upwardly, and thesestems are adapted to be de` pressed-simultaneously by `a plate 115 pivotally mounted upon pintles 116 upon bracket 117. Continuing beyond valve 113, the second steam supply passes through pipev 118 into mixing chamber 80, wherev the cold water lsupplied through pipe 79 is heated by means ofthe steam,

and the hot water passes through pipe 118 for vdischarge by nozzle 119 into the interior of the can7 and through perforatedpipes 120, which` spray the covers. To maintain thesoda solution at the desired temperature, steam isconducted The 'soda solution is contained in a y It will be noted that pipe 92` through pipe 121 leading from pipe 112 intotank 85, and is provided with a valve 122 and a steam exhaust pipe 123 upon the interior of the tank 85. -Valve 122 is normally maintained in closedposition by means 'of a spring engaging the stem, andgis caused to open when the temperature of the soda solution goes belowa predetermined temperature by means of a thermostat control 124 having a pipe 125 which enters tank 85,'and is provided with a manifold 126 which' contains a suitable medium such as ether or the like to respondv to temperature changes, and cause operation and opening of valve 122 by contraction 'of the medium. y f Adjacent the free edge of vplate 115 is connected one endv of link 127,2th'e other end of water to pass therethrough. Pipe A leads into Y a soda mixing chamber 136 which contains soda,V and as` the soda is dissolved in the supply` of i water,.the overow from chamber 136 passes into tank 85.' The final drying operationen the cans which is connected to L-shaped lever 128 pivotally mounted at 129 to the frame of the machine.`

and covers is performed by means of a motor Y 137 which operates suction'fan'138, drawing the air heated by means of radiator '111 through duct 139, and the heated air isY then expelled throughopening 140 which registers with the opening'of a can upon each periodical stopping i of the carriage, and opening 1.41 through which the heated air passes'to dry the covers.

In operation, each compartment of the carriage numb'erof compartments on the carriage, and the carriage is driven by the frictional engage; ment between disks 26 and 27 untilone of the lugs 47 contacts with stop rod 48. At this point, the

water rinse, the hot water rinsek and thestearnV sterilization are .in operation and the respectivev -zejecting nozzles are so positioned in the lower frame ofthe apparatus as tovregister with cans 'and covers in the respective compartments.v In this same position, .the second lug 47 in advance' Aof the lug in engagement with stop'bar 48 is v`in contact with' inclined surface 99 of plate 97, thus maintaining stem 1.00 depressed, and valve 96 in Vopen position,whereby the can and cover in the compartment Vof 'the' carriage vabove the soda s0- lution spray are subjected to a washing operation. It will be understood that lthe hot air supply for drying purposes operates continuously. When stop rod 48 is disengaged from a'icontacting lug 47, the carriage rotates through the frictional drive until the next following lug 471 contacts with the rupper end of stop rod 48, whereupon the operation is repeated. As'soon as the respective lugs pass beyond contact with shoe 131 and plate 97, the -valves automatically close, shutting off zles.v In the adjustment shown in Fig. 4, leg 63 is adapted toL be engaged by both shoes 58 and Vthe steam and fluid supply to the spraying noz- 59 upon disk 26 causing depression of rod 48-and consequent release ofY the carriage twice during each completerevolution of disk 26, andthis is termed the high speed adjustment, When member/60y is adjusted so that leg 63 is engaged only by shoe 58 upon disk 26, the release of the carriage occurs only once during each complete revolution of disk 26, and thus it will be seen that in this latter adjustment, the cans and covers in the Vrespective compartments are subjectedv tov ratus although involving a Alarge number of operations, isA almost entirely automatic. The frictional drive construction permits of the intermittent stoppage of the rotary carriagev during continuous operation of the driving motor 23, and consequentlyV driving shaft 2l, and at the same time permits'of extreme smoothness Yin operation. A satisfactory speed of operation has Vbeen found to be three and one-half revolutions per minute for the driving disk 26, andthis speed provides thorough rinsing, washing and drying operations upon seven cans per minute in the highk speed adjustment; and three and one-half cans per minute in the low speed adjustment.

While I have illustrated and described the prie-v ferred form of vconstruction for carrying my invention into. effect, thisvis'capable of variation and modification withoutl departing from the spirit of the'invention. I, therefore, do not wish to belimited to the precise .details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 'what I claim as new and desire to 'secure by Letters Patent is:

1'. A machine of the character described, comprising, in combination, a traveling carriage provided with a plurality of article receiving compartments for conveying articles adapted. to be successively subjected to cleansing` operations, continuously operatingr driving means for said carriage, power means connected to said driving means, a plurality of cleansing uid discharge nozzles along the path of the articles on said carriage, a plurality of valves for controlling the flow of cleansing fluid to said nozzles, a plurality of depending lugs upon said carriage, a stop rod adapted to be successivelyengaged by said lugs for intermittently arresting travel of 1 said carriage, and cam members mounted upon saiddriving means forV intermittently,,disengaging said stop rod, and valve operating means in the path of said lugs adapted to be engaged thereby to cause opening of said valves during each arresting period.

, 2. In a can washing machine, asupporting frame and driving mechanism thereon, a driving clutch-member rotatable about a vertical axis and being operably connected with saidk driving mechanism, a driven clutch member supported on said driving clutch member and being rotatable therewith about the same vertical axis, a spindle member supported by and rotatable with said driven clutch member, an annular carrier frame comprising a central open-ended hollow cylindrical member in spaced relation to said means for intermittently arresting said carrier frame with the cans thereon in cooperative range of said'nozzle pipes and simultaneously opening communication between said nozzle pipes and their respective sources of supply.

3. In a can washing machine,la rotary can carrier, said carrier comprising an annular supporting frame depending froml a radial support at the upper end of a supporting spindle and in concentric spaced relation thereto, a driven clutch disc at the lower end of said supporting spindle and affording a support for the latter, a driving clutch disc on which said driven disc is supported in axial relation thereto whereby said driven disc is normally rotatable with said driving disc and said driving disc is rotatable independently when resistance is brought to bear upon said driven disc, upstanding discharge nozzles disposed between said supporting spindle and said annular carrier frame, and also disposed externally of the circumference of said carrier frame, other treating nozzles disposed below said annular carrier frame,

' disc, means for intermittently arresting said carrier frame against rotation, and means controlled by the movement of said carrier for making active the respective can treating nozzles and devices during the periods of rest of said carrier.

4. Ina can washing machine of the character described, the combination of a traveling carriage, washing means in cooperative relation to lsaid carriage, depending lugs on said carriage, `means for successively engaging the lugs to intervmittently stop the carriage, and valves for controlling-the supply of fluid to said washing means and having operating means in the path of said lugs to be engaged' therebyl during each rest period of said carriage to open saidl valves.

5. A machine of the character `described cornprising, in combination, a traveling carriage for conveying articles adapted to be successively subjected to cleansing operations, depending lugs on `.said carriage, cleansing fluid nozzles along the lpath of the articles on said-carriage, means for successively engaging the lugs to intermittently .arrest the travel of said carriage, and valves for controlling the iiow of cleansing fluid to said nozzles, said valves being provided with operating means -in the path of said lugs to be engaged thereby during each rest period of said carriage lto open said valves.

6. In a can -washing machine, a supporting frame, a spindle member, means carried by said frame for supporting and rotating saidspindle member, an annular carrier frame comprising a central open-ended hollow cylindrical member in spaced relation to said spindle member and supported thereby, said cylindrical carrier member having slotted Wall portions, can supports on said annular carrier frame in cooperative relation to said openings therein, upstanding nozzle pipes between said'spindle and said cylindrical member of the carrier frame, upstanding nozzle pipes external to the peripheral portion of said carrier frame, and means for intermittently arresting said carrier frame with the cans thereon in cooperativerange of said nozzle pipes and simultaneriage, means for successively engaging the lugs to intermittently stop the carriage, valves for controlling the supply of fluid to said spraying devices, and valve operating means in the pathl of said lugs to be engaged thereby during each rest period of said carriage to open said valves. CHARLES F. McEWAN. 

